Apparatus for edging pile fabrics



United States Patent [72] Inventor Jesse McCreery 2186 N. W. Glisan, Portland, Oregon 97210 [21] Appl. No. 457,636 [22] Filed May 21, 1965 [45] Patented Aug. 11, 1970 [54] APPARATUS FOR EDGlNG PILE FABRICS 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 112/137 [51] Int. Cl D05b 35/06 [50] Field ofSearch 112/9, 137, l39,153,177,179, 267, 268

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 120,966 l1/1871 Halladay 112/153 258,952 6/1882 Stern 112/153UX Behringerm 112/139 Merrow.... 1l2/139UX Coon 112/139UXR Woodward 1 12/137 Maier 112/9UX Ackerman 1 12/137 McCreery 1 12/9 Primary Examiner H. Hampton Hunter Attorney- Eugene D. Farley Pa tented Aug. 11, 1910 3,523,509

Jesse McCreery INVENTOR.

APPARATUS FOR EDGING PILE FABRICS This invention pertains to apparatus and method for edging pile fabrics.

Several methods have been applied heretofore to protect the raw, freshly cut edge of pile fabrics such as rugs and carpets. One commonly used method employs a three-thread serger. This apparatus sews heavy threads around the fabric edge, making twelve or thirteen stitches to the lineal inch so that the threads are placed one next to the other as required to form the finished edging. The application of this method of edging is attended by the serious disadvantage that it is necessary to place the stitches so close together that the base of the pile fabric is weakened seriously. Also, the stitching sews down a proportion of the pile elements, making an irregular edge.

Still further, the introduction of synthetic carpeting fabric bases which are hard and stiff, has resulted in excessive needle damage and fabric damage when former methods and apparatus have been applied to their edging.

Accordingly it is the general object of the present invention to provide apparatus and method for edging pile fabrics which:

1. Secures the raw edge and braces the pile adjacent the edge so that it stands rigidly erect.

2. Is applied rapidly in a single operation, using a conventional single-thread blind stitch sewingmachine.

3. Does not weaken the backing of the fabric nor sew down the pile.

4. Produces an attractive, durable, ridged edging which may be formed in a variety of silhouettes and color patterns.

5. May be applied to pile fabrics of varying weight, texture and composition.

6. May be accomplished without sewing through the edging material.

7. Does not draw the fabric edge out of shape.

8. is effectuated by means of an adjustable appliance of simple structure readily applied to a blind stitch sewing machine.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished by the use of apparatusillustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1, is a perspective view of the presently described edging apparatus illustrated as an attachment to a conventional blind stitch sewing machine for applying a cordedging to the edge ofpile fabric;

FIG. 2. is a fragmentary, transverse, sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. l illustrating the cord-edged fabric and the manner in which the cord edging is sewn to the fabric;

and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of sewing the cord edging to the fabric and of varying the silhouette of the finished edging by adjusting the tension of the thread during the sewing operation.

As is well known, the conventional single-thread, blind stitch sewing machine is provided with a power-driven feed for feeding the work through the machine; a power-driven, arcuate, single-thread needle timed with the feed and operated through an arm and looper; work adjusting means including a platen and rib bars for elevating and inclining the sewing sur face of the work by the desired amount; a presser foot for holding down the work as it is sewn; thread tensioning means for adjusting the tension applied to the sewing thread; and stitch adjusting means for adjusting the longitudinal spacing of the stitches.

The presently described edging apparatus is designed for use with a blind stitch sewing machine of this type. It takes advantage of the stitching sequence effectuated by the machine, without modification, to apply to the cut edge of a pile fabric a cord edging which makes a neat edge and secures the fabric against raveling.

In the drawings, indicates a piece of such fabric including a base 12 and a multiplicity of upstanding pile elements 14 woven into the base in the usual manner. For the purposes of the present invention, the pile fabric may be variously manufactured, of various thicknesses and of any desired texture or pattern.

In the practice of the invention the raw edge of the fabric is edged with a cord 16 which preferably is round in cross section. The cord edging employed may comprise any of the commercially available woven or twisted cord edgings.

The thread 18 employed for lashing the cord to the edge of the fabric likewise may be any one of a number of commercial products suitable for use with a blind stitch sewing machine. The color, texture and other properties of both the cord and thread obviously may be matched with the fabric to produce an edged product of pleasing appearance.

ln applying the cord to the fabric edge, use is made of a novel guide 20 comprising an elongated, tapered, hollow cylinder open at both ends and along the side and dimensioned to receive the cord 16 at its wide end and pass it through its narrow end, the diameter of which should approximate the diameter of the cord.

Guide 20 is positioned contiguous and parallel to the edge of the pile fabric. It lies substantially at right angles to the path 22 of the threaded needle, which lies immediately adjacent the small end of the guide so that in its normal stroke the needle penetrates the base of the fabric and loops the thread around the outside of the cord without penetrating the latter.

Guide 20 is mounted on an angularly bent support plate 24 and is maintained interchangeably and adjustably in its operative position by means of a bracket 26 fixed by suitable means to the head of the sewing machine. The end of bracket 26 is bifurcated and provides a pair of flat, resilient arms 28, 29 dimensioned to receive the shank end of support plate 24 between them. Arm 28 is removable, being insertable in a seat in bracket 26 where it is held by its own spring tension.

A screw 30 exerts clamping pressure on the plate, holding it securely in place but at the same time permitting its longitu-. dinal adjustment as required to position guide 20, or its I complete removal where it is desired to replace guide 20with another of different size, shape or slant.

In practicing the presently described method of edging pile fabric, the fabric 10 is placed floor side up on the feed mechanism of a blind stitch, single-thread sewing machine. The work holding elements of the machine are adjusted so that the needle will take the path relative to the fabric which is indicated at 22 in FIG. 1. The tension of thread 18 is adjusted to the predetermined level.

Cord 16 is threaded over the presser foot and through conical guide 20 with its leading end placed parallel and contiguous to the edge of fabric 10. The leading end of the cord then is fastened to adjustable tensioning means of suitable design adapted to exert a degree of longitudinal tension which stretches the cord and predetermines its thickness.

During the operation of the machine, the curved, threaded needle penetrates the base of the carpet, traveling from left to right as viewed in the drawings. It goes through base 12 only once, and then under cord 16 to the end of its travel.

On the return of the needle toward the left, the thread forms a loop over the eye of the needle. Thereupon the looper prongs of the sewing machine pick up the loop and draw the thread tightly around the cord on a diagonal line. At this time, and at this point of travel, the threaded needle again starts from left to right. As it starts, the needle goes through the thread loop and locks the loop tightly around the cord. This completes the stitch, which is repeated at intervals determined by the stitch spacing; preferably at intervals of only three or four stitches to the inch.

It is to be observed particularly that the thread does not penetrate the cord, but is looped around it. As it is looped, it is' drawn tightly to form ridges in the cord which have a pleasing ornamental effect. The height of the ridges is determined by the tension applied to the thread.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, when the needle takes path .22, the thread during completion of the stitch may follow paths 22a or 22b, depending upon the tension applied to it. The

ridge produced in the cord accordingly will be emphasized proportionately as the tension on the thread is increased.

Still further, by varying the axial tension applied to the leading end of cord 16, its diameter may be decreased in proportion to the tension to control its width to the extent required by such factors as the thickness of the fabric.

It also is to be observed, as shown particularly in FIG. 2, that in the finished edged fabric. the cord is drawn snugly against the raw edge of the fabric without involving the pile, i.e. without sewing down the individual pile elements. In this position, it braces the pile elements so that they are maintained rigidly in an erect position.

Still further, the stitches are made at widely spaced intervals. This creates an attractive edge design and at the same time preserves the inherent strength of the fabric.

lt accordingly will be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

1 claim:

1. In a single thread, blind stitch sewing machine, an attachment for edging pile fabrics having a base and a multiplicity of upstanding pile elements, the attachment comprising:

a) a hollow cord guide open at its front and rear ends and along one side for receiving a length of cord edging freely therethrough,

b) a support member extending laterally from the cord guide in the direction of and below said open side and arranged for mounting on the sewing machine with the front open end of the guide positioned adjacent the needle of the sewing machine,

c) the side of the cord guide opposite the support member defining an abutting surface for guiding the edge of pile fabric to be edged, whereby a cord edging extending from the front open end of the guide is disposed parallel to and against said pile fabric edge,

d) the sewing thread being passed through the pile fabric base and around the cord substantially without penetrating the latter and substantially without sewing down the pile elements.

2. The attachment of Claim 1 wherein the cord guide comprises a tapered, hollow cylinder having its small end adjacent the path of the needle, said small end approximating the diameter of the cord edging. 

